Patent US3920779A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3920779A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Submersible aerator
Assignee: BWP Inc AN CORP
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Filing: 1973-12-17
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Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1993-12-17
Abstract
Abstract An aerator particularly adapted for use in a sewage treatment system to draw air beneath the surface of the waste material in the system to promote aerobic decomposition of the waste material. The aerator is designed to draw high volumes of air into the sewage and to be relatively insusceptible to malfunction through clogging of the aerator with solid particles likely to be encountered in wastes of this type.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas G Abele
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:27
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/02; C02F3/12; C02F3/20; C02F3/205; B; B01; B01F; B01F23/00; B01F23/20; B01F23/23; B01F23/233; B01F23/2336; B01F23/23363; B01F27/00; B01F27/25; B01F27/05; B01F27/11; B01F27/111; B01F27/115; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/71
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
367 words
A submersible aerator comprising: a. an impeller including a substantially circular plate member and a plurality of vanes mounted on an upper surface of said plate member and extending spirally outwardly from adjacent the center thereof, b. a motor connected to said impeller and adapted to rotate said impeller about an axis substantially coincident with the center thereof and in a directioN such that outer ends of said vanes constitute trailing ends thereof, c. a motor housing including a motor end bell enclosing said motor, d. a shaft of said motor extending through said end bell and being provided with bearing and seal means at said end bell, e. an upper surface of said end bell having a central dished portion adapted to facilitate access of cooling liquid to said bearings and seals, f. said upper surface of said end bell sloping downwardly and outwardly away from said central dished portion to prevent accumulation of solids between said upper surface of said end bell and a lower surface of said plate of said impeller, g. a pair of posts projecting upwardly from said upper surface of said end bell adjacent the periphery thereof, h. a pair of radially disposed fins extending between inner surfaces of said posts and said upper surface of said end bell to prevent vortices between said upper surface of said end bell and said lower surface of said impeller plate, i. a shroud plate of substantially cross shaped configuration having a lower surface area less than the area of said impeller and having outer ends of two legs thereof attached to upper ends of said posts with a lower surface of said shroud plate in closely spaced relationship to upper surfaces of said impeller vanes, j. said shroud plate providing substantial open area between adjacent legs thereof with adjacent legs being joined by smoothly curved portions to permit entry of liquids to said impeller, k. an air intake line mounted on said shroud plate and communicating therethrough with said impeller at substantially said center thereof, and l. tripod legs projecting downwardly from said motor housing and supporting said motor housing with a lower surface thereof positioned above lower ends of said tripod legs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
367 words
A submersible aerator comprising: a. an impeller including a substantially circular plate member and a plurality of vanes mounted on an upper surface of said plate member and extending spirally outwardly from adjacent the center thereof, b. a motor connected to said impeller and adapted to rotate said impeller about an axis substantially coincident with the center thereof and in a directioN such that outer ends of said vanes constitute trailing ends thereof, c. a motor housing including a motor end bell enclosing said motor, d. a shaft of said motor extending through said end bell and being provided with bearing and seal means at said end bell, e. an upper surface of said end bell having a central dished portion adapted to facilitate access of cooling liquid to said bearings and seals, f. said upper surface of said end bell sloping downwardly and outwardly away from said central dished portion to prevent accumulation of solids between said upper surface of said end bell and a lower surface of said plate of said impeller, g. a pair of posts projecting upwardly from said upper surface of said end bell adjacent the periphery thereof, h. a pair of radially disposed fins extending between inner surfaces of said posts and said upper surface of said end bell to prevent vortices between said upper surface of said end bell and said lower surface of said impeller plate, i. a shroud plate of substantially cross shaped configuration having a lower surface area less than the area of said impeller and having outer ends of two legs thereof attached to upper ends of said posts with a lower surface of said shroud plate in closely spaced relationship to upper surfaces of said impeller vanes, j. said shroud plate providing substantial open area between adjacent legs thereof with adjacent legs being joined by smoothly curved portions to permit entry of liquids to said impeller, k. an air intake line mounted on said shroud plate and communicating therethrough with said impeller at substantially said center thereof, and l. tripod legs projecting downwardly from said motor housing and supporting said motor housing with a lower surface thereof positioned above lower ends of said tripod legs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
182 words
A submersible aerator comprising: a. an impeller including a plurality of outwardly projecting vanes, b. said vanes extending substantially spirally outwardly from adjacent the center of said impeller toward the outer periphery thereof, c. means for rotating said impeller about an axis substantially coincident with said center thereof in a direction such that outer ends of said vanes constitute trailing ends thereof, d. said rotating means including a motor enclosed in a housing having an end bell positioned immediately beneath said impeller, e. a motor shaft extending through said end bell and mounting said impeller thereon, f. a shroud plate positioned above said vanes with a lower surface of said shroud plate in closely spaced relationship to said vanes, g. means mounting said shroud plate on said end bell with said impeller interposed between said end bell and said shroud plate, h. said shroud plate having a total lower surface area less than the total area of said impeller beneath said shroud plate, and i. intake means for feeding gas through said shroud plate to said impeller at substantially said center thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
182 words
A submersible aerator comprising: a. an impeller including a plurality of outwardly projecting vanes, b. said vanes extending substantially spirally outwardly from adjacent the center of said impeller toward the outer periphery thereof, c. means for rotating said impeller about an axis substantially coincident with said center thereof in a direction such that outer ends of said vanes constitute trailing ends thereof, d. said rotating means including a motor enclosed in a housing having an end bell positioned immediately beneath said impeller, e. a motor shaft extending through said end bell and mounting said impeller thereon, f. a shroud plate positioned above said vanes with a lower surface of said shroud plate in closely spaced relationship to said vanes, g. means mounting said shroud plate on said end bell with said impeller interposed between said end bell and said shroud plate, h. said shroud plate having a total lower surface area less than the total area of said impeller beneath said shroud plate, and i. intake means for feeding gas through said shroud plate to said impeller at substantially said center thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The aerator of claim 2 wherein said end bell comprises: a. an upper surface sloping downwardly and outwardly away from the center thereof beneath said impeller to thereby prevent accumulation of solids between said end bell and said impeller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The aerator of claim 3 wherein said end bell further comprises: a. a dished central portion surrounding said motor shaft to provide ready access of cooling liquids for said shaft and seals and bearings associated therewith.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The aerator of claim 2 wherein said end bell comprises: a. a dished central portion surrounding said motor shaft to provide ready access of cooling liquids for said shaft and seals and bearings associated therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The aerator of claim 2 wherein said means mounting said shroud plate on said end bell comprises: a. post means formed integrally with and projecting upwardly from an upper surface of said end bell, and b. means attaching said shroud plate to upper ends of sAid upwardly projecting post means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The aerator of claim 2 further comprising: a. fins projecting upwardly from an upper surface of said end bell intermediate said end bell and a lower surface of said impeller to reduce vortices between said impeller and said end bell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
186 words
A submersible aerator comprising: a. an impeller including a plurality of outwardly projecting vanes, b. said vanes extending substantially spirally outwardly from adjacent the center of said impeller toward the outer periphery thereof, c. means for rotating said impeller about an axis substantially coincident with said center thereof in a direction such that outer ends of said vanes constitute trailing ends thereof, d. said rotating means including a motor encolsed in a housing having an end bell positioned beneath said impeller, e. a motor shaft extending through said end bell and mounting said impeller thereon, f. said end bell having a dished central portion surrounding said motor shaft to provide ready access of cooling liquids for said shaft and seals and bearings associated therewith, g. a shroud plate mounted above said vanes with a lower surface of said shroud plate in closely spaced relationship to said vanes, h. said shroud plate having a total lower surface area less than the total area of said impeller beneath said shroud plate, and i. intake means feeding through said shroud plate to said impeller at substantially said center thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
186 words
A submersible aerator comprising: a. an impeller including a plurality of outwardly projecting vanes, b. said vanes extending substantially spirally outwardly from adjacent the center of said impeller toward the outer periphery thereof, c. means for rotating said impeller about an axis substantially coincident with said center thereof in a direction such that outer ends of said vanes constitute trailing ends thereof, d. said rotating means including a motor encolsed in a housing having an end bell positioned beneath said impeller, e. a motor shaft extending through said end bell and mounting said impeller thereon, f. said end bell having a dished central portion surrounding said motor shaft to provide ready access of cooling liquids for said shaft and seals and bearings associated therewith, g. a shroud plate mounted above said vanes with a lower surface of said shroud plate in closely spaced relationship to said vanes, h. said shroud plate having a total lower surface area less than the total area of said impeller beneath said shroud plate, and i. intake means feeding through said shroud plate to said impeller at substantially said center thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The aerator of claim 8 wherein said end bell further comprises: a. an upper surface sloping downwardly and outwardly away from the center thereof beneath said impeller to thereby prevent accumulation of solids between said end bell and said impeller.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The aerator of claim 9 further comprising: a. fins projecting upwardly from an upper surface of said end bell intermediate said end bell and a lower surface of said impeller to reduce vortices between said impeller and said end bell.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
190 words
A submersible aerator comprising: a. an impeller including a plurality of outwardly projecting vanes, b. said vanes extending substantially spirally outwardly from adjacent the center of said impeller toward the outer periphery thereof, c. means for rotating said impeller about an axis substantially coincident with said center thereof in a direction such that outer ends of said vanes constitute trailing ends thereof, d. said rotating means including a motor enclosed in a housing having an end bell positioned beneath said impeller, e. a motor shaft extending through said end bell and mounting said impeller thereon, f. said end bell having an upper surface sloping downwardly and outwardly away from the center thereof beneath said impeller to thereby prevent accumulation of solids between said end bell and said impeller, g. a shroud plate mounted above said vanes with a lower surface of said shroud plate in closely spaced relationship to said vanes, h. said shroud plate having a total lower surface area less than the total area of said impeller beneath said shroud plate, and i. intake means feeding through said shroud plate to said impeller at substantially said center thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
190 words
A submersible aerator comprising: a. an impeller including a plurality of outwardly projecting vanes, b. said vanes extending substantially spirally outwardly from adjacent the center of said impeller toward the outer periphery thereof, c. means for rotating said impeller about an axis substantially coincident with said center thereof in a direction such that outer ends of said vanes constitute trailing ends thereof, d. said rotating means including a motor enclosed in a housing having an end bell positioned beneath said impeller, e. a motor shaft extending through said end bell and mounting said impeller thereon, f. said end bell having an upper surface sloping downwardly and outwardly away from the center thereof beneath said impeller to thereby prevent accumulation of solids between said end bell and said impeller, g. a shroud plate mounted above said vanes with a lower surface of said shroud plate in closely spaced relationship to said vanes, h. said shroud plate having a total lower surface area less than the total area of said impeller beneath said shroud plate, and i. intake means feeding through said shroud plate to said impeller at substantially said center thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The aerator of claim 11 further comprising: a. fins projecting upwardly from an upper surface of said end bell intermediate said end bell and a lower surface of said impeller to reduce vortices between said impeller and said end bell.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
189 words
A SUBMERSIBLE AERATOR COMPRISING: A. AN IMPELLER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF OUTWARDLY PROJECTING VANES, B.SAID VANES EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY SPIRALLY OUTWARDLY FROM ADJACENT THE CENTER OF SAI IMPELLER TOWARD THE OUTER PERIPHERY THEREOF, C. MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID IMPELLER ABOUT AN AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY COINCIDENT WITH SAID CENTER THEREOF IN A DIRECTION SUCH THAT OUTER ENDS OF SAID VANES CONSTITUTE TRAILING ENDS THEREOF, D. A SHROUD PLATE MOUNTED ABOVE SAID VANES AND HAVING AN OPENING FORMED THERETHROUGH SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY THEREOF, E. SAID SHROUD PLATE HAVING A PLANAR LOWER SURFACE, F. SAID SHROUD PLATE LOWER SURFACE BEING DISPOSED ABOVE AND IN CLOSELY SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID VANES WITH SAID VANES MOVING ACROSS SAID LOWER SURFACE OF SAID SHROUD PLATE AS SAID IMPELLER IS ROTATED ABOUT SAID AXIS, G. SAID SHROUD PLATE LOWER SURFACE INCLUDING A CENTRALLY DISPOSED PORTION POSITIONED ABOVE AND COVERING A CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID IMPELLER, H. SAID SHROUD PLATE HAVING A TOTAL LOWER SURFACE AREA LESS THAN THE TOTAL AREA OF SAID IMPELLER BENEATH SAID SHROUD PLATE, AND I. INTAKE MEANS FOR FEEDING GAS THROUGH SAID OPENING IN SAID SHROUD PLATE TO SAID IMPELLER AT SUBSTANTIALLY SAID CENTER THEREOF.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
189 words
A SUBMERSIBLE AERATOR COMPRISING: A. AN IMPELLER INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF OUTWARDLY PROJECTING VANES, B.SAID VANES EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY SPIRALLY OUTWARDLY FROM ADJACENT THE CENTER OF SAI IMPELLER TOWARD THE OUTER PERIPHERY THEREOF, C. MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID IMPELLER ABOUT AN AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY COINCIDENT WITH SAID CENTER THEREOF IN A DIRECTION SUCH THAT OUTER ENDS OF SAID VANES CONSTITUTE TRAILING ENDS THEREOF, D. A SHROUD PLATE MOUNTED ABOVE SAID VANES AND HAVING AN OPENING FORMED THERETHROUGH SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY THEREOF, E. SAID SHROUD PLATE HAVING A PLANAR LOWER SURFACE, F. SAID SHROUD PLATE LOWER SURFACE BEING DISPOSED ABOVE AND IN CLOSELY SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID VANES WITH SAID VANES MOVING ACROSS SAID LOWER SURFACE OF SAID SHROUD PLATE AS SAID IMPELLER IS ROTATED ABOUT SAID AXIS, G. SAID SHROUD PLATE LOWER SURFACE INCLUDING A CENTRALLY DISPOSED PORTION POSITIONED ABOVE AND COVERING A CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID IMPELLER, H. SAID SHROUD PLATE HAVING A TOTAL LOWER SURFACE AREA LESS THAN THE TOTAL AREA OF SAID IMPELLER BENEATH SAID SHROUD PLATE, AND I. INTAKE MEANS FOR FEEDING GAS THROUGH SAID OPENING IN SAID SHROUD PLATE TO SAID IMPELLER AT SUBSTANTIALLY SAID CENTER THEREOF.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The aerator of claim 13 wherein: a. said shroud plate comprises a plurality of outwardly projecting legs intersecting adjacent said center of said impeller and providing open areas between adjacent legs for the flow of liquid to said impeller.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The aerator of claim 14 wherein: a. said shroud plate is of substantially cross shaped configuration.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The aerator of claim 13 wherein said means for rotating said impeller comprises: a. a motor, b. a motor housing enclosing said motor and including an end bell positioned beneath said impeller, and c. a motor shaft extending through said end bell and mounting said impeller thereon.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The aerator of claim 16 further comprising: a. fins projecting upwardly from an upper surface of said end bell intermediate said end bell and a lower surface of said impeller to reduce vortices between said impeller and said end bell.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |